</s>FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Date April 30, 1969 1 1 LARRY DAKER, 115 Woodland, furnished the following information: He is presently a student at the University of Dayton having transferred from St. Meinrad College, St. Mehrad, Indiana. He was with a group of students from St ., Meinrrad, who accompanied Senator ROBERT KENNEDY to Portland, Oregon, and to Los Angeles, California. He had left the Embassy Room of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles just prior to the time Senator KENNADY was shot. He did not observe the shooting, and at no time he observed SIRIAN SIRHAN. He has no knowledge of any conspiracy upon the life of Senator KENEDY. -59- On 4/25/69 at Dayton, Ohio File # 175-6 SA CLAIR W. RITCHEY, JR. / jms 4/28/69 by Date dictated This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the Fbi and is loaned to your agency it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into individuals associated with Robert F. Kennedy’s 1968 campaign and events surrounding his assassination. Larry Daker, a St. Meinrad College student, accompanied RFK to Oregon and Los Angeles but left the Ambassador Hotel before June 5, 1968, and claimed no knowledge of conspiracy. Kenneth Fussell, also from St. Meinrad Seminary, was present at the Ambassador Hotel on June 5, 1968, but did not observe the assassination or Sirhan Sirhan. Kathy Civik, a Southern Illinois University student, worked on RFK’s campaign in Indiana and Missouri, traveled to Oregon/California, and noted confusion following the shooting, mentioning elevator control. John Puetz, an Indiana University student, learned of the assassination via media at the Embassy Room of the Ambassador Hotel but did not see Sirhan Sirhan. Russell F. Davis, another Southern Illinois University student, left the Ambassador Hotel before the shooting. Justin Moorhead, an Occidental College resident, denied being present at the hotel during the assassination. Linda Louise Elliott, from Goleta, California, watched TV coverage of RFK’s speech but did not witness the shooting. A potential witness, PHUSZYZY (possibly PRUSZYSKI), was a press member at the Ambassador Hotel with a tape recorder and claimed no knowledge of suspects. Khatabar Khan and family, involved in RFK’s 1966 campaign in Los Angeles, faced deportation proceedings for overstaying visas since 1963.  

Mrs. Ellenore Severson identified photographs of individuals linked to Khaibar Khan’s group, including Sirian Sirhan (later convicted of assassinating RFK), Rose Khan (a young girl on crutches), and others. Lawrence Strick, a volunteer worker, initially claimed to have seen Khabibar Khan and another man at the campaign headquarters but retracted his statement in August 1968, stating he could not identify Sirhan in mug shots. Other interviews mentioned suspects carrying firearms, physical descriptions (e.g., “black hair, dark eyes”), and references to the Ambassador Hotel as a location for events. INS records and hospitalizations were referenced, including Maryam Khan’s hospitalization after a horse-related incident.  

Estelle Sterns, a volunteer worker at Kennedy Headquarters in Los Angeles, reported observing four individuals on June 4, 1968, near the front door of the facility, including Sirhan B. Sihan (possibly misrendered). She described three men and one woman allegedly carrying guns and discussing RFK’s itinerary. An anonymous female phone call informed her of the assassination via television, while an anonymous male caller instructed her not to disclose information about the individuals. Sterns refused polygraph testing and later recanted some statements during follow-up interviews. Other witnesses at the headquarters identified the group as Khabbar Khan and associates, not Sirhan.  

Khabbar Khan submitted volunteer worker cards with 24 names, many unlocated, using his wife’s address. The FBI noted none of these individuals entered the U.S. between June 1968 and December 1968. A disputed radio broadcast in Prague allegedly reported RFK’s assassination on May 15, 1968, but was retracted. Roy Donald Murray claimed to have pledged $2,000 toward a “contract” to kill RFK if he received the Democratic nomination. Marvin Pappan, a barber in Oklahoma City, described an individual (possibly “Big Boy” Ryan) with a light green Lincoln Continental who expressed hostility toward RFK and carried machine guns. Ryan was linked to the Minuteman organization but denied involvement.  

RHYNES, a rancher interviewed about firearm possession, stated he owned shotguns and AR15 rifles but no M16 automatic weapons. He denied owning illegal weapons and claimed rumors were due to past boasting. RHYNES also stated he had never met ROBERT BOLIVAR DE FUGH or WALTER PATRICK PEYSON. DON WISE, interviewed in Bristol, Oklahoma, reported picking up a hitchhiker on May 31 or June 1, 1968, who claimed to be en route to Los Angeles from Chicago and needed to meet someone by Monday night. The hitchhiker, dressed in military fatigues, discussed shooting, war, and President Kennedy’s assassination but did not express remorse for RFK’s death. He carried a union card with the name SIMRAN SIBHAN and local number 17/14, described as having a birthdate of February 6, 1944, and interested in military reserves and plans to save money for a car in California.  

Key People  
- **Larry Daker**: St. Meinrad College student; accompanied RFK to Oregon/Los Angeles; left Ambassador Hotel before June 5, 1968.  
- **Kenneth Fussell**: St. Meinrad Seminary student; campaign assistant in Oregon/California; present at Ambassador Hotel on June 5, 1968.  
- **Kathy Civik**: Southern Illinois University student; worked on RFK’s campaign in Indiana/Missouri; traveled to Oregon/California; noted elevator control post-shooting.  
- **John Puetz**: Indiana University student; present at Embassy Room of Ambassador Hotel when learned of assassination via media.  
- **Russell F. Davis**: Southern Illinois University student; campaign assistant in California; stayed at motel, left Ambassador Hotel before shooting.  
- **Justin Moorhead**: Occidental College resident; denied presence at Ambassador Hotel during assassination.  
- **Linda Louise Elliott**: Goleta, California resident; watched TV coverage of RFK’s speech but did not witness shooting.  
- **PHUSZYZY (possibly PRUSZYSKI)**: Press member at Ambassador Hotel with tape recorder; claimed no knowledge of suspects.  
- **Khatabar Khan and family**: Involved in 1966 RFK campaign in Los Angeles; under deportation proceedings for overstaying visas since 1963.  
- **Mrs. Ellenore Severson**: Identified photographs of Khaibar Khan’s associates, including Sirian Sirhan, Rose Khan, and others.  
- **Khaibar Khan**: Central figure in group associated with RFK’s campaign; described as leader with Iran connections.  
- **Sirian Sirhan**: Identified by Severson as man observed near campaign headquarters; later convicted of assassinating RFK.  
- **Rose Khan**: Young girl on crutches linked to Khaibar Khan’s group; identified in photographs.  
- **Lawrence David Strick**: Volunteer worker at Kennedy campaign; initially claimed to have seen Khabibar Khan and another man but retracted statement later.  
- **Maryam Khan**: Sister of Khaibar Khan; hospitalized after horse-related incident.  
- **Estelle Sterns**: Volunteer worker at Kennedy Headquarters; reported observing four individuals, including Sirhan B. Sihan.  
- **Khabbar Khan**: Submitted volunteer worker cards with 24 names; identified as suspect in investigation.  
- **Sirhan B. Sihan**: Allegedly observed by Sterns; possibly misrendered name.  
- **Roy Donald Murray**: Claimed to have pledged $2,000 toward “contract” to kill RFK if he received Democratic nomination.  
- **Marvin Pappan**: Barber in Oklahoma City; described individual (possibly Ryan) with hostility toward RFK.  
- **"Big Boy" Ryan**: Allegedly associated with machine guns and Minuteman organization; denied involvement.  
- **RHYNES**: Rancher interviewed about firearm possession; denied owning illegal weapons or meeting ROBERT BOLIVAR DE FUGH/WALTER PATRICK PEYSON.  
- **DON WISE**: Interviewed regarding hitchhiker encountered on May 31–June 1, 1968; described man in military fatigues with union card and travel plans to Los Angeles.  

Key Locations  
- **Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles**: Site of RFK’s assassination on June 5, 1968; referenced in descriptions of movements within the hotel.  
- **St. Meinrad College (Indiana)**: Educational institution from which several campaign assistants originated.  
- **Southern Illinois University**: Institution associated with multiple individuals involved in RFK’s campaign.  
- **Occidental College (Montreal?)**: Mentioned as residence of Justin Moorhead; context unclear.  
- **Goleta, California**: Location of Linda Louise Elliott and her group’s activities.  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Primary location for Kennedy campaign headquarters (5615 Wilshire Boulevard) and related activities.  
- **Pasadena Police Department**: Photographs of individuals linked to Khaibar Khan obtained from this department.  
- **Kennedy Headquarters (Hdgets)**: Los Angeles, California; site of Estelle Sterns’ observations.  
- **Rolla, Missouri**: Location where DON WISE picked up the hitchhiker.  
- **Tulsa, Oklahoma**: Where the hitchhiker was dropped off.  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Destination mentioned by the hitchhiker.  

Key Events  
- **June 5, 1968**: Assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy at Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.  
- **June 4–6, 1968**: Observations of individuals associated with Khaibar Khan’s group at RFK’s campaign headquarters; anonymous phone calls to Estelle Sterns about the assassination.  
- **May 15, 1968**: Alleged radio broadcast in Prague reporting RFK’s assassination; later retracted.  
- **June 4, 1968**: Estelle Sterns observed four individuals near Kennedy Headquarters, including Sirhan B. Sihan, allegedly carrying guns and discussing RFK’s itinerary.  
- **Summer 1968**: Marvin Pappan described Ryan’s presence and claims of possessing machine guns.  
- **August 1968**: Lawrence Strick retracted earlier claims about Sirhan’s involvement after being shown mug shots.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews and investigations into Khaibar Khan’s group, RFK’s campaign activities, and potential suspects.  
- **Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)**: Handled deportation proceedings against Khatabar Khan and family; provided photographs of individuals linked to Khaibar Khan.  
- **Kennedy Campaign Headquarters**: Operated in Los Angeles with volunteers and assistants from various institutions.  
- **Minuteman Organization**: Ryan allegedly associated with, though denied membership.  
- **Patriotic Party**: Mentioned in Rhyne’s interview as an organization with unclear ties to the investigation.

RFK Declassified Files

62-hq-587_sec_044_ser_1220_only-part_5_of_9.pdf

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